Found out some interesting stuff re: my last post.
From an article:
Burden or Opportunity: Illegitimate births in the Netherlands and Taiwan
by Hill Gates, Jan Kok, Sping Wang.
Its all just sketchy notes I took.
In the 19th century the MINORITY of first-born children were conceived after the wedding. Although illegitimacy ratios for the Netherlands are much lower than those
of other European countries.
The records are from Dutch civil registries; a random sample between 1812-1922.
KWEESTEN: A system of sexual rights of adolescents before an official engagement.
Children of adulterous relationships could never be recognised.
There was voluntary recognition of an illegitimate child by the father; adoption by marriage partner; or applying for 'Royal letters of legitimation' granted after an inquest by the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.
In 1809 French Civil Law was adopted and traditional paternity suits (fathers to pay child support) were abolished. This law was rescinded after 1911.
The Dutch state enabled marriages but could also prohibit them: bigamy, incest, marrying sister-in-law, disapproval of parents, inability to procure necessary documents, or when a prospective groom was serving in the military.
The average age of a woman bearing her first child was 24 years. This is due to the fact that men were not allowed to marry until they were economically independent.
In the 19th century only about one-third of illegitimates were legitimated by the marriage of parents.
Prenuptial pregnancies were most common in Protestant areas.
Infant mortality was very high for illegitimate children. Netherland's charity was reserved for the 'deserving poor' and mothers of illegitimate children got no financial support or/and driven from their homes; so, infanticide was not uncommon.
Of course, we are only interested in those that survived
Show Posts
They came through! Hurrah.